Flash boiler



Dec. 8, 1925- 1.564.680

L. c. KELLEY FLASH BOILER Filed Aug. s, 1923 2 sheets-sheet 1 *.1 INVENTOR. m" Fr- 1 Les/1k C. lfe//ey \srcr/al 4 A TTORNEY.

L. C. KELLEY FLASH BOILER Filed Aug. 8. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LBS/As 6. Ke/y BY ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 8, i925.

LESLIE C. KELLEY, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

FLASH Application filed August 8, 1823.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, LESLIE C. KELLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful ln'iprovements in Flash Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates, in general, to steam boilers, and more particularly -to water tube or flash boilers for use in automobiles, tractors, launches and other vehicles.

- As is well known, taking the automobile for example, the boiler plant is one of the Vitals of the vehicle, as upon it depends the supply of power for driving the vehicle.

Boilers of this type and with which I am familiar, have many more or less serious deficiencies and defects, such as, being unequal to heavy duty on long grades because of insuflicient capacity to generate the proper volume of steam at such a time, the burning-out of the fire-box linings and tubes, the interior scaling and consequent clogging of the tubes, the many construction joints subject to stresses and strains and liability to injury and leakage, and the more or less complicated and expensive structure.

In my invention, I seek to eliminate the above objections, and include among my objects a flash boiler of simple design and capable of heavy duty when occasion demands, without causing the burning-out and failure of the tubes subject to the hottest flame.

Other important objects are; the elimination of lire-box linings and the heretofore metallic casing surrounding the boiler; the construction of the boiler shell entirely of tubing and the weldingof the same along its contacting surfaces; the construction of the entire boiler of tubing and having one continuous passage therethrough; and the supporting of the internal tubing by the shell of the boiler.

Another object is the provision of the fire box and combustion chamber within the upper part of the boiler, and the escapement of the burned gases from the open bottom of the boiler.

A still further object, is the construction of the shell in sections of tubing communicating with each other and with the internal section of tubing, and finally welding the shell sections as a unit, leaving suitable BOILER.

Serial No. 356,359.

openings therein for ignition, firing, and fire observation.

And a still further object is the provision of a thermostat tube in the center of the boiler and as part of the internal section.

The thermostat device will form the subject matter for another patent application, as will the ignition, firing and fireobservation means, or more generally, the boiler control means.

Other objects and advantages and the features of construction of the invention, will appear in the subjoined description of the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan of the boiler constructed in accordance with my invention, and shows prominently a portion of the tubing spread apart and leaving an opening for the introduction of ignition means (not shown).

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the boiler, and shows to advantage a portion of the tubing similarly spread apart for the introduction of the fueling and fire-observation means (also not shown).

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation along the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 showing the structure in detail.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section along the line 44 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direc tion of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, drawn to a larger scale, showing a portion of the shell or head tubes and the weld uniting them.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of portions of shell sections 3 and 4 showing principally the ending of section 3 and the beginning of section 4; and

Fig. '2' is a diagrammatic view showing the relative sections of the boiler and their continuous connect-ion one with the other. The water inlet isat sect-ion 1 and the outlet at section 4.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the various figures.

Adverting to the drawings and figures thereof: The numeral 1, Fig. 3, indicates in general the shell or drum of the boiler and 2 the head or top thereof, and 2 the internal section of the same.

The boiler is composed entirely of tubing and preferably of steel tubing, because of the superior qualities the latter possesses for a boiler of this character having my objects in view. The Structure comprises substantially four sections, namely, a base section 1, the aforementioned internal section 2, an intermediate section 3, and a top section 4.

Tracing the sections through, the lowermost coil 7 of the base section 1 is wound 111 a clock-use direction, and upon 1t is built coil upon coil to the suitable height designated by the bracket 1 here termed the base section. Thence the coil leaves the said base section of the shell, as at 8, and is turned inwardly and downwardly to the point 9 *igs. 3 and 1) for the formation and coiling of the entire internal section 2.

The internal section, it will be observed (Fig. 3), consists of horizontal groups of coils spaced apart as at 10, and superimposed above each other but spaced therefron as at 11. The coils of one plane step up to the one immediately above at the inner ring 12, then from the outer ring 13 as at 13 and so on. At the high and final. point 14: of this section (Figs. 3 and 1), the tubing is turned outwardly and downwardly to the bottom coil of section 3, as at 15, and here the intermediate section 3 begins. The tubing is continued clock-wise as heretofore until the desired height of the section is reached, as to the point 16 (Fig. 6), and here I preferably turn the tubing upwards to a desired height 16' (Figs. 1 and 3) and to the central larger tube 17 extending through and projecting from the internal section 2.

Near the bottom of the tube 17 as at 18, the coil tubing returns to the region of the terminal point 16 (Figs. 3 and 6) of the intermediate section 3, and upon this section the top section 4 is constructed and in a similar manner. When the desired height of this section is reached, the tubing is coiled inwardly in a plane and toward the shell-center, as at 19, and here the terminal 20 is led to any desired point. The latter coiled plane forms the head or top 2 of the boiler.

The space 22 in the boiler between the top of the internal section 2 and the head 2 is the combustion chamber, and the opening 23 leading therein and formed in the side of the shell is for the reception of the heretofore mentioned fueling and fireobservation means, and in the top of the head an opening 24 is formed for the also heretofore mentioned ignition means.

The central tube 17, forming part of the boiler assembly, passes through the combustion chamber and through the central chamber 25 of the internal section 2. Within the central thermostat tube 17 and spaced therefrom, is an expansion tube 26, preferably of brass or other material responsive to thermal changes. Both of the tubes 17 and 26 have closed bottoms and open tops, but are secured together as by bolts 27 through flanges 28, a suitable gasket 2.) being he.

tween the flanges for permitting a sealed connection, thereby the space-way 30 between the said tubes 17 and 26 is part of the free and continuous circulatory passage through the pipe system.

The top plate 31 closing the cent al hole I I 32 of the heal 2, is secured to the latter and to the tube 17 preferably by welding. Also the bottom plate 33 closing the hole to chamber 25 is secured in a similar manner.

In lfig. 3 the boiler is shown resting on a support and tie plate 35 indicated by light lines, and which may be the chassis of an automobile.

The boiler is a system of continuous tubing preferably constructed as described, the internal section 2 being, supported by the shell 1, and the shell and head is formed as a sealed unit by a continuous weld 36 along the contact region of the individual coils of both shell and head.

In some cases where the shell and head are wound perfect and tight, I may wish to dispense with a continuous weld, and weld only certain areas just sufficient for rigidity.

In operation, water enters the lowermost coil as at 3.1, thence passes spirally upward through the base section 1 to 8 and from here downward into the lowermost coil. of the internal section 2 indicated by direction arrows. The heated water then spirals upwardly through the internal section 2 and thence passes downward to the lowermost coil of the intermediate section 3 to 15, and likewise spirally circulates upward to its top coil to point 16, and from here the first loop 16 outside of the shell is made, the water and steam passing therethrough and into the tube 17 near the top, thence through space-way 30 and out near the bottom into the second loop 18 outside of the shell to the lowermost coil of the top section 4:. The steam then circulates upwards and around the fire-box and combustion chamber to the coils of the head 2, which latter forms a superheater and through which the resultant superheated steam passes for delivery through outlet terminal 20 to the engine or elsewhere.

The combustion circulation takes a swirling course in and around. the combustion chamber 22, and spirals downwards externally and internally about the internal. section 2, and about and between the spaced and superimposed coils thereof, and finally the products of combustion pass out of the boiler at the open bottom thereof.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have dos 'ibed the principle of operation, to

gether with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is the following:

1. A flash boiler for automobiles and the like, comprising an outer shell with a closed top and a series of superimposed groups of coils within said shell and spaced from said top, the said space being the combustion chamber of the boiler, the coils of each group spaced horizontally from one another, and successive groups of coils spaced vertically, the said shell and top consisting of contacting coils of tubing formed as a rigid drum with an open bottom, the said structure adapted to direct the gases of combustion downwards through said internal series of spaced coils and through said open bottom into the atmosphere.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1 together with a thermostat tube integrally connected. with the boiler and passing thcrethrough.

3. A flash boiler for automobiles and the like, comprising an outer shell with a closed top and a series of superimposed groups of coils within said shell and spaced from said top, the said space being the combustion chamber of the boiler, the coils of each group spaced horizontally from one another, and successive groups of coils spaced vertically, the said shell and top consisting ,of contacting coils of tubing formed as a rigid drum with an open bottom, the said structure adapted to direct the gases of combustion downwards through said internal series of spaced coils and through said open bottom into the atmosphere, and the said shell formed with an opening near the top thereof for the boiler fueling means and fire observation, and the said top formed with an opening for the insertion of ignition means.

4. A flash boiler construction consisting of a plurality of contacting coils of tubing forming the base section 1 of the boiler shell, and a plurality of superimposed spaced coils of tubing within said section and of greater height than said section forming the internal section 2, and a second shell section 3 of tubing built upon said base section 1 and similar thereto having its upper coil connected to the lower coil of section 4: which latter section is built upon said section 3 and similar thereto forming the third shell section of tubing, and said tubing finally coiled toward the shell-center forming the top or head of the shell, the said top spaced from said internal section a determined and unobstructed distance to form the combustion chamber, the said shell sections and top integrally connected together forming thereby the boiler shell or casing, the tubing of the structure being continuous and forming a continuous passage through the boiler, the normal position of the boiler being vertical and the said base section adapted for placement upon a support and the gases of combustion adapted for downward passage through said internal section and out through the open bottom of said boiler shell.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LESLIE C. KELLEY. 

